Pat Stryker has 'not committed' to donating to CSU on-campus stadium

Oct. 2, 2012

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A day after Colorado State University President Tony Frank gave conditional approval to building a $246 million stadium on campus, one of the university’s biggest private financial backers said she wasn’t sure whether she’d help support the new project.

Pat Stryker on Tuesday issued a statement saying she trusts that Frank has CSU’s best interests in mind, moving forward with the project, and that she remains a “loyal Rams fan” and supporter of the football program. However, she has “not committed” to donating money to build the proposed 43,000-seat campus.

“Instead, I am focused on other philanthropic activities through Bohemian Foundation’s programs and special initiatives,” she said in the statement.

The local billionaire is founder of Bohemian Foundation, a Fort Collins-based organization that strongly promotes music and the arts gives millions to community groups and programs each year.

Stryker and her siblings are also heirs to Stryker Corp., a medical device and software company founded by her grandfather. She has long been a supporter of CSU and the Athletics Department, donating more than $15 million to fund the renovation and expansion of Hughes Stadium in May of 2003.

Opened in 1968, the home of Rams football got more than 4,000 more seats and a jumbo tron in 2004, a new press box in 2005 and new synthetic turf in 2006.

Stryker has also donated millions more to CSU over time to fund things such as the expansion of the College of Business, among other projects.

Frank said in his announcement Monday that CSU must raise at least half the stadium’s cost — or $125 million — before moving forward with the project. The system Board of Governors has final approval power.

Neither Athletics Director Jack Graham nor Frank could be reached for comment Tuesday. CSU spokesman Kyle Henley said in an email to the Coloradoan that Thursday, during the Board of Governors meeting, was the next time “we’ll be commenting publicly on stadium issues.”